Benefits of Study Groups
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Material is better understood and retained
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Students can confirm with each other any confusing or complex subject material
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Fellow students can be a source of support and encouragement
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Opportunity to teach, not just be recipient of someone else’s knowledge
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Increase in confidence in academic capability
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Opportunity to learn new study habits from peers
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Learning becomes more personally relevant and intellectually stimulating
Getting Started
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Ask motivated students to join your group
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Set an optimal group size of about three or four people
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Establish the group’s goals and set some important ground rules (see below)
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Create a regular schedule of meetings and assignments
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Select an ideal, distraction-free location
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Be sure everyone prepares for the group and is willing to participate
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Evaluate the group periodically to be sure it is on task and meeting its goals
Some ground rules for study group sessions…
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Be on time and prepared
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Be respectful of others’ ideas
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Have homework, study guides, sample test questions, etc. completed before session
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Have questions about material ready to discuss
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Bring class notes and textbooks to study sessions Things to do at group sessions…
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Establish goals and what you hope to accomplish by joining a study group
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Review lecture notes together; discuss anything you did not understand
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Discuss key concepts from lectures and textbook
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Discuss what questions you expect to be on tests and exams
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Review past exams if the professor has made them available
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Work on assignments
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Do practice problems
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Study or tests or exam